The Australian Olympic Committee says its decision to pull out of the 2020 Tokyo Games had been unilateral and made without the knowledge of Canada or the International Olympic Committee. The AOC said last Monday it could not assemble a team for 2020 due to coronavirus, the announcement coming quickly after Canada confirmed it would not send athletes. The double withdrawal prompted speculation the two Olympic committees might have acted together with the IOC to give the global body leverage to postpone Tokyo. Canada on Friday denied any such arrangement, and the AOC followed suit on Monday. "Any assertions that a decision by the Australian Olympic Committee to tell its athletes to plan for a Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021 was done in concert with either the International Olympic Committee or the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) are completely incorrect," the AOC said in a statement emailed to Reuters. The AOC said its decision followed a sequence of events, which included the IOC's announcement that the global body was conducting "scenario planning" for Tokyo, with postponement among the options. The IOC's announcement came a day after Australia announced widespread measures aimed at containing coronavirus, including travel curbs and quarantine requirements at national and state borders. "This meant our athletes could not continue their training programs," the AOC said. The effect of the government measures and the IOC's scenario planning prompted a special meeting last Monday of the AOC's executive board. "The effect of these measures, as outlined, informed the Executive's conclusion that an Australian Olympic Team could not depart our shores for a Games at any time within the next six months, at least," the AOC added. "The AOC Executive considered it in the best interests of the health and safety of our athletes that they return to their homes and families as soon as possible, particularly as border closures were progressively being introduced. "At no point, were either the IOC or COC aware of, or involved in, this process." The IOC last week postponed the Olympics for a year after also coming under pressure from athletes. The IOC is working with sports federations to clear a window for the Tokyo Games in July-August, 2021, although officials have said all options are on the table. Australian Associated Press

No Aussie collusion in Olympic withdrawal

The AOC says its 2020 Tokyo Olympics pull out had nothing to do with Canada or the governing body.

The Australian Olympic Committee says its decision to pull out of the 2020 Tokyo Games had been unilateral and made without the knowledge of Canada or the International Olympic Committee.

The AOC said last Monday it could not assemble a team for 2020 due to coronavirus, the announcement coming quickly after Canada confirmed it would not send athletes.

The double withdrawal prompted speculation the two Olympic committees might have acted together with the IOC to give the global body leverage to postpone Tokyo.

Canada on Friday denied any such arrangement, and the AOC followed suit on Monday.

"Any assertions that a decision by the Australian Olympic Committee to tell its athletes to plan for a Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021 was done in concert with either the International Olympic Committee or the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) are completely incorrect," the AOC said in a statement emailed to Reuters.

The AOC said its decision followed a sequence of events, which included the IOC's announcement that the global body was conducting "scenario planning" for Tokyo, with postponement among the options.

The IOC's announcement came a day after Australia announced widespread measures aimed at containing coronavirus, including travel curbs and quarantine requirements at national and state borders.

"This meant our athletes could not continue their training programs," the AOC said.

The effect of the government measures and the IOC's scenario planning prompted a special meeting last Monday of the AOC's executive board.

"The effect of these measures, as outlined, informed the Executive's conclusion that an Australian Olympic Team could not depart our shores for a Games at any time within the next six months, at least," the AOC added.

"The AOC Executive considered it in the best interests of the health and safety of our athletes that they return to their homes and families as soon as possible, particularly as border closures were progressively being introduced.

"At no point, were either the IOC or COC aware of, or involved in, this process."

The IOC last week postponed the Olympics for a year after also coming under pressure from athletes.

The IOC is working with sports federations to clear a window for the Tokyo Games in July-August, 2021, although officials have said all options are on the table.